Clamp fob concrete-column forms



Spf; 1.3, 1927. H. O. McMlLLAN v l CLAMP-FOR CONCRETE COLUMLLFORMS:

Uriglnal 'le'dsept. 22. 1924 Reissued Sept. 13, 192.7'.

PAT

ENT oF HOWARD O. MCMILLAAN, OF MINNEAPGLIS, MINNESOTA.

CLAMP FOR CONCRETE-COLUMN FORMS.

Original No. 1,539,053, dated May 26, 1925, Serial No. 739,667, filed September 22, 1924. Applif'etion or reissue led November 6,

This invention relates to-a clamp and particularly to a column clamp such as used in clamping forms for concrete columns. As vis well vknown to those skilled. in the art, in the formation of concrete columns the fo1-m`is made, usually, of boards which are firmly held in position by a series of clamps so as to hold the concrete in proper posltion until it has set.

It i's an object of this invention to provide a simple and eicient clamp for clamping a` concrete column form and one which can be easily and quickly applied and operated to clamp the form.

It is also an object of this invention to provide such a clamp comprising' pairs of bars adapted to extend around tthe corners of the form and overlap at the sides of the form, said overlapped 'bars having means for moving the same relatively longitudinalt ly to tightenv the clamp.

It is a further object of the invention to provide such a clamp comprising pairs of ars hinged or pivoted together and arranged to be folded intol alined form when not in use, one of said bars preferably having a laterally disposed U-shaped .portion arranged to embrace the other bar.

It is still furtherV an object of the in.l vention to provide such a clamp comprising pairs of bars', the bars of each pair extend-- ing at an angle toeach other, said bars having longitudinally spaced slots extending transversely therethrough, the slots in one bar being spaced a greater distance than the slots in the other so that the same will be out of alinement in the respective bars together with a wedge member adapted to be disposed in'said slots and relatively move said bars. n

It is still another object of the invention to provide a clamp having pairs of bars, as above set forth. which 'bars are preferably flat and pivotally connectedat one end with their flat sides in contact, said bars. being offset out of the plane of saidv fiat sideadjaf cent said pivotal connection. It is also an object of the present invention to provide a clamp, as set forth in the preceding paragraphs, comprising the pairs of bars. as stated, together with a wedge adapted to be driven through the slots lin said bars to draw the same together. lThese and other objects and advantages of the inventioncwill be fully set forth iin 1926. Serial No. 146,832.'

the following description made in conne tion with the accompanying drawings in which like reference characters refer to the same parts throughout the different views, andin which:

Fig. 1 is a view in horizontal section of the 'column form showing the clamp in plan;

Fig. 2is a 'view in front" elevation of said column form and clamp;

Fig. 3 is an edge View of the clamp in folded position;

4F ig. 4 isa view in side elevation of the clamp`in partly open position;

Fig. 5 is a horizontal section taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3, as indicated by the arrows;

Fig. 6 is a horizontal sect-ion taken on theV line 6-6 of Fig. 2, as indicated by the arrows; and

Fig. 7 is 'a view similar to Fig. 6 showing the parts in different position.

Referring to the drawings, a form for a concrete column is show-n as 8, said form being composed .of vertically extending boards and the same being shown as rectangular or square. The clamp of the present invention comprises a plurality of pairs of bars adapted to embrace the column form. Each of said pairs comprises a bar 9 preferably of flat form which is pivotally connected at its ends to another bar 10. ,Y The bar 9 has secured yoke or U-shaped member 11.l While this yoke may be secured to or formed on the bar in various ways, in the embodiment of the invention illustrated, it is shown as conat its free end a longitudinally extendingl and is of such size as to freely receive the bar 1 0. The voke l1 and bar 9 are provided with longitudinally extending slots 12 which extend `transversely through saidyoke and bar. While said slots may be spaced apart different distances, in the embodiment of the invention illustrated, they are shown as spaced substantially the distance of the length of one of the slots. The bar 10 is also provided with a series of longitudinally extending slots 13, said latter slots being spaced a smaller distance apart than the slots 12. While the slots 13 may also bespaced different distances, in the embodiment of the invention illustrated they are shown as spaced'substantially one-third the length of one of the slts,ithe'slots 12 and 13 being of leo .posed substantially the same length. vThe bars 9 and 1() are offset laterally out of the plane of their flat sides adjacent the point of their pivotal connection V,as shown at 14 in Fig. 3. One or more Wedge members 15 are provided for use in connection with the pairs of bars described, which wedges preferably are provided withy a. small hole 16 adjacent their wide ends.

In operation, the pairs'oi bars will be placed-about thecolumn with the' point of pivotal connection of the hinged pintle dis- A at the corner of the form. The free ends of the bars thus project along the sides of the form-and overlap at said sides. The end of one bar 10 overlaps the end of ythe adjacent bar 9 and passes through and is embraced by the yoke 11 on said bar 9. Owing to the fact that the slots in the bars are spaced differently, the slotswill be outof alinement. The bars are initially disposed about the form so that the end of the bar 10 extends to or past the inner end of yoke 11. The slots in the bar 1() will then appear, for instance, as shown in Fig. 6, a portion of one of the slots 13 alining with the end portion of one of the slots 12. With thebar's in this position about the form a wedge 15 is inserted downwardly through the slot 12 and its smaller end will engage in the exposed portion of slot 13. The wedge will now be 'driven downwardly and the bars 9 and 10 will be drawn together. This movement of the wedge can' be continued-until the slots 12 and 13 are substantially iny alinement. When. this occurs, as shown in Fig. 7, if it is desired to further tighten the form or clamp another wedge 15 will be inserted in the slot l1 at the right of Fig. 7 so that its small end will engage in the exposed portion of 'the adjacent slot 13. This lwedge can now be driven downwardly, the wedge 15 pivotally driven being removed as soon as the second wedge tightly engages the bars. The bars can thus be drawntogether so that the clamp will be tightened very securely about the form with practically any desired pressure. The last wedge driven, of course, will be left in the clamp to hold the same in position and will be held securely in the clamp by friction. Owing to the relative spacing of the slots in the two bars and the yoke 11, a continuous action by the wedges can be' f maintained and one of the slots l13 will always be in position to be engagedby the wedge driven in the yoke 11. A stepby step or successive tightening action is thus obtained. Owing to the oi'set 14 in the bars it will beseen, by reference to Fig. 2,' that the bar 10 is brought below the plane of the bar 9 which is at the adjacent sides of the column so that, if necessary, the bar 13 can project beyond the side of the columnl and will pass the bar 9 at the other side of the column.

When the clamp is not in use,the pairs of bars 9 and 10 can be folded or jack-knifed together, as shown in Fig. 3, the bar 1() swinging into the yoke 1l so that the pairs of bars are brought into very compact arrangement and will require little space in packing for transportation or storage. The wedges 15 are provided with the holes 16 so that they can be strung upon a wire or other flexible member and kept together during transportation or storage.

From the above description it is seen that applicant has provided -va very simple and eicient column clamp and one thatcan be ve quickly placed in position and operate The clamp can be used with a'triangular column or with any other polygonal column, such as hexagonal or octagonal columns, the pairs of bars embracing the columns, asshown'in Fig. 1, the pivotally connected point being vdisposed at the corners andthe ends of the bars overlapping at the sides.' It will be noted that it is not necessary to have any bars projecting beyond the sides of the column so that the clamp may be used on a column which is very close to a wall or other object. The device is easily'and inexpensively made and is of rugged character adapted to stand the usage for which it is designed. The device has been amply demonstrated in actual practice and found to bevery successful and efiicient.

It will, ofcourse, be understood that various changes may be madein the form, de-

tails, arrangement and proportions of the` parts without departing from the scope ofA applicants invention, which. generally stated, consists in a device capable of carry .l

ing out the objectsl above set forth, such as shown and described and defined in the appended claims.

lVhat is claimed is:

l. A column clamp comprising bars extending around thecorners of a column form and overlapping at the Sides of said column form, and means engaging saidbars at their overlapped portions relatively to move said bars longitudinally and .tighten said clamp( 2. A column clamp comprising pairs of` hinged bars, each pair adapted to extend around a corner of the-column and the ends of adjacent pairs adapted to overlap at the side of'said column, said overlapped bars having means for successively moving ,the same in opposite directions longitudinally to tighten said clamp.'

3. The structure set forth in claim 2,' said bars being offset a distance. greater than their thickness whereby the projecting ends will not be obstructed lat the corners of the form.

H1. A"column clamp comprising bars extending around the corners of a column form and overlapping at the sides of said column form, means for moving said bars relatively l longitudinally, one of said bars having a l tending transversely therethrough of different spacing whereby the slots in the respective bars are out of alinement, and means .adapted to be inserted through the slots of adjacent vbars when the clamp is applied to the column to move said bars longitudinally and tighten said clamp.

6. The structure set forthY in claim' 5, the slots in the first `mentoned bar being spaced a distance substantially the length of one of said slots and the slots in the second mentioned bar being spaced a distance substantially one-'third of the length of s'aid'slots.

7.A clamp for a concrete column form comprising a plurality of pairs of bars, the bars of each pair being angularly 'disposed and adapted to extend around one corner of a column `form and overlap the bars extending around an adjacent corner at the sides of said form, one of the bars of each pair having a laterally disposed U-shaped portion adjacent its free end adapted to'embrace the other bar, said U-shaped portion having spaced slots extending transversely through both sides thereof, the other bar having a series of slots extending transversely therethrough, said latter slots'being spaced closer together than' said first mentioned slots .whereby the slotsin said bar vand U-shaped V and vtighten said clamp.

portion, respectively, are out of alinement,

and a .wedge adapted to extend through vslots in adjacent bars when the bars are applied to the form to move said. bars longitudinally 8. A column clamp comprising pairs of ,hinged bars, each -pair adapted to extend around a corner of the column and the ends of adjacent pairs'adapted to overlap at the sidc'of said column, said ends each being provided with a plurality of longitudinally disposed Slots extending transversely through said bairs, the slots in the respective bars being spaced different distances apart Whereby they are out ofjalinement, and a Wedge.

adapted tobe drivenY into the slots in .adjacent bars Whenthe bars are applied to the columnto move' said bars and tighten said clamp. f

9. The structure set forth in claim 8, said .bars being o'set transversely adjacent their hinged points.

1 0.' A clamp for a concrete column form comprising a plurality of pairs of bars, the

bars of each pair being pivotally connected together at one of their ends and one being formed at its other end with a laterally disposed yoke adapted to receive and embrace the other bar, said yoke having spaced longi- Said yoke and bar whereby said bars may be drawn together longitudinally.

11.y A column clamp comprising aplurality of pairs of flat bars, the bars of each pair being ivotally connected at one end, a yoke secure adjacent the end of one of said bars of each pair, said yoke opening laterally and adapted to receive and embrace the other bar, said yoke having longitudinally spaced slots extending transversely therethrough, the other bar having a series of longitudinally disposed similar slots spaced a smaller distance apart, and a Wedge adapted to be inserted through the slots in said yoke and a slot in the other bar of the adjacentpair of bars when theclamp is applied to the column pherby a successive tighteningmay be efecte 12. Thestructure set forth in claim 11,

said bars being oset in a direction normal to their flat sides out of the plane of the main portions thereof adjacent their points of pivotal connection. j

13. A column clamp comprising bars arranged to extend about the sides of the column form and overlap, means for tightening said bars on said form comprising a member embracing one of said bars and having a series of spaced slots extending therecomprising a plurality of pairs of bars, the

bars of each pair being pivotally connected together at one of their ends and extending respectively about the sides of said form, a member adapted to embrace one of said bars` and having spaced longitudinally disposed slots extending transversely therethrough 'and said bar having a plurality of longitudinally disposed slots extending transversely therethrough, spaced apart less than half the distance said slots in said member are spaced, said slots in said member and bar being adapted to be brought into alinement and a wedge adapted to be inserted through the slots in said vmember and bar for-longitudinally moving the same so that the slot in said bar is always in position to receive a wedge passed through the, slots in'said member and a continuous take-up on said bar may 4thus be had.

15. A clamp comprising two members adapted to be relatively movedA to tighten said clamp, one of said members embracing the other and having a plurality of spaced slots extending therethrough, said other member also having a plurality of spaced slots extending therethrough adapted to aline with the slots in said first vmentioned inember, the slots in oneof said members being spaced less than half the distance that the slots in the other member are spaced, and wedge means adaptedtopass through said slots in said members and relatively move the same so that a continuous take-up may be had between said members.

16. The structure set forth in claim 15, the slots in one of said members being spaced substantially the distance of the length of said slots, and the slotsin thev other member being spaced substantially one-third of said distance.

17. A clamp for a concrete column form comprisingy a plurality of pairs of bars, the bars o each pair being pivotally connected together at one end and extending respectively about the sides of said form, a member receiving the overlapped ends of said bars, said member and said bars having 1ongitudinally alined spaced slots extending respectively therethrough, one of said sets of slots being spaced less than half the distance of said other set, and wedges adapted to extend through the slots in said member and said bars so that a continuous take-up may be had between said member and bars'.

18. A clamp for a concrete form comprising a plurality of pairs of bars, the bars o each pair being pivotally connected together at one end and extending respectively about the sides overlapping at their free ends, a member receiving the overlapped ends of said bars having slots extending therethrough, wedges adapted to be driven in said slots and engage said bars relatively to move said member and bars, 'said Slots being so arranged that a `continuous take-up may be had Abetween said, bars and member by using first one wedge and then another.

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature.

HOWARD O. MCMILLAN. 

